@aim: "Racist Democrats enforce segregation of their own party
By Jeff Emanuel
January 24, 2007
The Politico's headline says it all: "Freshman Rep. Stephen I. Cohen,
D-Tenn., is not joining the Congressional Black Caucus after several current
and former members made it clear that a white lawmaker was not welcome."
Cohen isn't black. However, the Congressman he replaced - Harold "I like
sports and I like girls" Ford - is, and his district, in Memphis, is 60%
black, and his staff is majority African-American. That clearly just isn't
good enough - even though, as a Democrat, Cohen likely has no intention
whatsoever of rocking the CBC's boat; he appears simply to be trying to
represent his constituency in the best way that he can.
The caucus does not have an "official" racial prerequisite for membership;
however, no white Member has ever been able to join - even if an
overwhelming percentage of their constituency is black.
It doesn't look like that's going to change any time soon, either. Rep.
William Lacy Clay Sr. (D-Mo) responded to Cohen's attempt to join by
authoring and circulating a memo which emphasized how "critical" it was
"that the group remain exclusively African- American."
Clay's son, also a Democrat Congressman from Missouri, reinforced that
opinion, saying: "It's an unwritten rule. It's understood. It's clear."
"Half my Democratic constituents were African-American. I felt we had
interests in common as far as helping people in poverty," said Rep. Pete
Stark (D-CA), who attempted to join the caucus in 1975. "They had a vote,
and I lost. They said the issue was that I was white, and they felt it was
important that the group be limited to African-Americans."
"I think they're real happy I'm not going to join," said Cohen, after
finally backing out of his bid to do so. "It's their caucus and they do
things their way. You don't force your way in. You need to be invited."
And the Congressional Black Caucus has made it very clear who is not
invited, either now or ever: White people.
Way to work toward that "colorblind society," folks.
<url>"
    @dhomuthoneatcomcastnet: "On Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:40:40 -0600, "Guerite�" <email_address>
wrote:
<quote>
A congressional caucus is not a public group.  It has no particular
Standing incongruous.  It is not funded by any public funds.
If the members of the black caucus do not wish to allow some cracker
to join in order to make a mere point, they are under no obligation to
do so.
The Xtian Prayer Breakfasts are not required to accept non-Xtians
either."
    @damercer: ""Don Homuth" <dhomuthoneatcomcast.net> wrote in message news:<email_address>
: On Fri, 26 Jan 2007 14:40:40 -0600, "Guerite3" <email_address>
:
: >Racist Democrats enforce segregation of their own party
: >
: >By Jeff Emanuel
: >January 24, 2007
: >
: >The Politico's headline says it all: "Freshman Rep. Stephen I. Cohen,
: >D-Tenn., is not joining the Congressional Black Caucus after several current
: >and former members made it clear that a white lawmaker was not welcome."
:
: A congressional caucus is not a public group.  It has no particular
: Standing incongruous.  It is not funded by any public funds.
:
: If the members of the black caucus do not wish to allow some cracker
: to join in order to make a mere point, they are under no obligation to
: do so.
:
: The Xtian Prayer Breakfasts are not required to accept non-Xtians
: either.
Calling a Jewish Congressman representing a predominantly African
American district a "cracker" strains the definition of the term.
Dan Mercer"
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